Welcome to another episode of Nutrition Chats with Dietitian Dianna! Today, we’re going to dive into the difference between food allergies and food intolerances. These terms are often used interchangeably, but they’re actually very different. How may you ask? Well, let’s get into it!

What is a food Allergy?

A food allergy can be defined as a severe immune system response to a specific food protein. While individuals may be allergic to a variety of different foods, there are 9 common allergens. These include, peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, and sesame.

Onset of a food allergy can vary person to person, although most food allergy symptoms will present immediately or within minutes to two hours after exposure. Our immune system’s job is to identify and destroy foreign bacteria or germs. This is by design so your body can protect you from getting sick. Although, when our immune system overreacts to a harmless food protein this can cause for a life-threatening event, such as anaphylaxis. Other symptoms of food allergies may include, hives, swelling, trouble breathing, vomiting etc. Symptom severity varies based on factors such as genetics, family history, type of exposure to the food protein and amount of the allergen consumed.

What is a food Intolerance?

A food intolerance occurs when the body has difficulty digesting certain food proteins, and unlike a food allergy it does not involve the immune system. This means, the immune system does not respond when ingesting or coming in contact with the food.

Common food proteins that cause intolerances include lactose, gluten (non-celiac), FODMAPs (fermentable, oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols, and additives found in processed foods. Symptoms of food intolerances are often delates (e.g., hours after eating), and symptoms may include but are not limited to bloating, gas, cramps, diarrhea and fatigue.

It's important to note that food intolerances differ from food allergies because they are not life threatening. While these symptoms may be uncomfortable, they will not lead to anaphylaxis.

Features of Food Allergies

  • Involves the immune system
  • Is life threatening
  • Can be confirmed by diagnostic testing (IgE)
  • Typical Symptoms: Hives, swelling, anaphylaxis
  • Requires an EpiPen

Diagnosis and Testing

Food allergies are typically diagnosed through skin prick testing, blood tests (IgE) or medically supervised oral food challenges. In contrast, food intolerances are often identified through elimination diets and symptom tracking. Some intolerances such as lactose intolerance can be diagnosed using a breath test. Whether you are concerned about a food allergy or intolerance, it is always encouraged to work with a registered dietitian and/or allergist for proper diagnosis.

If you, your child or a loved one is navigating a food allergy and need some support with meal planning or creating safe, healthy meal - you’re in luck! The Dr. Yum project has launched an allergy-friendly landing page filled with helpful resources and information. It features detailed information on food allergies and a variety of delicious, allergy-safe recipes tailored to suit a range of dietary needs. Click HERE to checkout our allergy-friendly recipes and find out even more helpful links! Check out our new video to find out how to use the allergy icons and navigation to find recipes to suit your dietary needs.

Also make sure to visit our "Raising Adventure Eaters" series and click on our "Safe Feeding" handout. It covers new evidence guidelines for high allergen food introduction in infants. We have a new allergy exposure chart to help parents track which allergens foods babies are trying and how to safely introduce them.

Happy cooking for the whole family!